Title: Shiseido Uncovers Eyelash Growth Power in Zizyphus Jujuba

Shiseido has discovered that Zizyphus jujuba fruit extract promotes the growth rate of eyelashes.This research follows previous findings by the company that eyelashes grow differently than scalp hair.

In 2007, researchers at Shiseido investigated the physiological and histological features of eyelashes, as reported in an article in the Journal of Japanese Cosmetic Science Society. They noted that eyelashes are on a more rapid cycle (4 months) but a slower growth rate (0.18mm/day) compared with scalp hair. Additionally, the growing phase of eyelashes (approximately 40 days) occupies one-third of the hair cycle. Moreover, the length of eyelashes varies in a person.

On this basis, Shiseido focused on the relationship between the growth rate and length of eyelashes. The length of eyelashes was found to be largely dependent on their growth rate through examining more than 250 eyelashes in Japanese women in their 20s and 30s.

Based on these findings, Shiseido promoted research to find out cosmetic ingredients making eyelashes longer through accelerating their growth rate. As a result of examining more than 200 kinds of plant extracts to stimulate the proliferation of hair follicle cells, Zizyphus jujuba fruit extract was found to be highly effective. The fruits of Zizyphus jujuba are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their sedative, anti-allergy and anti-stress effects.

A laboratory test designed on the continuous use of trial products over a four-month period demonstrated that Zizyphus jujuba fruit extract increases the growth rate of eyelashes. These research results will be reported at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine in Yokohama, Japan.